noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
autosome; non-sex chromosome
Technical term in genetics; refers to any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome. Often used in the form 常染色体の to modify a noun.
See also: 性染色体
ヒトは22対の常染色体と1対の性染色体を持つ。
Humans have 22 pairs of autosomes and one pair of sex chromosomes.
この病気は常染色体優性遺伝で伝わる。
This disease is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.
性染色体 refers to sex chromosomes (X and Y), while 常染色体 refers to all other chromosomes.
Compound of 常 (じょう, 'ordinary') + 染色体 (せんしょくたい, 'chromosome'). The term is a direct calque of the English 'autosome'.